Apparently the extended searchings of
We and the Sea didn't translate into much radio airplay, so
Creed Taylor had the Tamba 4 limit their excursions to the usual A&M/CTI bite-sized portions on its follow-up LP. Though the voodoo feeling and classical erudition of the previous album is lost, the listener does get a seductive series of melodic vignettes, by no means repetitive in mood and usually alive with the infectious groove of the bossa nova.
Luiz Eca has less to do on the keyboard but contributes some sensuous string charts to a few tracks, and the group's chanted vocals and Bebeto's sexy bass, alto and standard flutes become the group's signatures. The repertoire ranges from Brazilian standards like
Joao Donato's "Know It All" and
Edu Lobo's "Reza" to North American pop like "Watch What Happens" and the Tijuana Brass flip side "Slick.
Samba Blim doesn't draw you in as completely as its predecessor -- the tunes are over before you know it -- but it remains intensely musical, catching real fire on "Weekend" and "San Salvador." ~ Richard S. Ginell